Aspirator apparatus



1967 A. D. BROWN ETAL 3,351,090

ASPIRATOR APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1965 INVENTORS ALBERT D. BROWN TERRY B. FRANKLUNSR.

Agent United States Patent 3,351,090 a ASPIRATOR APPARATUS Albert D. Brown, Atlanta, and Terry B. Franklin, Sr.,

Woodstock, Ga., assignors to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, Calif.

' Filed June 25, 1965, Ser. No. 467,058

6 Claims. (Cl. 137-557) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A regulator for aspiration devices is provided to permit theuse with safety of the conventional manifold of an automobile engine as a controlled suction source of infinite duration. Included with'thirs regulator are the connectors and accessories necessary to produce an operative apparatus and facilitate its installation.

This invention relates to aspirator apparatuses and more particularly to improvements therein, contemplating a compact aspirator apparatus readily connectable to a convenient source of negative pressure or suction for its operation and including adjustments for the precise regulation of such pressure.

The present invention has in view a handy, portable apparatus to permit the use of areadily available source of negative pressure such as the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine as a suction source of infinite duration.

While this invention has general application, it finds particular utility in emergency situations. For example, rescue vehicles such as ambulances are presently equipped with tanks, bottles, and like containers of gas under high pressure which including a valving system whereby the release of pressure therefrom creates a venturi action which produces the required suction for the associated aspirator. Since these containers become quickly exhausted in such usage, the length of aspirator time available on such vehicles is short inasmuch as the space and weight limitations of the vehicle make it impractical to carry containers of unlimited volume.

It is therefore Within the purview of the instant invention to provide an aspirator apparatus including means for its connection to a source of negative pressure, e.g. the manifold system of an engine together with means to regulate the effective suction produced thereby. In essence, this apparatus comprises in a unitary assembly a vacuum chamber, a connector to establish communication between this chamber and a source of negative or vacuum pressure, an adjustment to regulate the atmospheric condition internally of the chamber, and a vent connection extending from the chamber.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. However, the construction, organization, and method of operation of the invention, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of an aspirator apparatus made in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlargement of the control device shown in FIGURE 1, connected between the source of negative pressure and the drain conduit to regulate the effective suction forces therebetween; and

FIGURE 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2 to show primarily the means to adjust and regulate the pressure condition within the vacuum chamber of the control device.

ICC

Referring more specifically to the drawings, 10 designates the control device of the aspirator apparatus provided with attachment means in the form of integral ears 11 by which it may be removably mounted to suitable fixed structure (not shown) to maintain it in the desired position. The device 10 is a hollow cup-like case 12 closed and sealed by a cover plate 13 removably secured as at 14 at its open end to define an internal vacuum chamber 15.

The wall of the case 12 is pierced by a pair of individual centrally-bored couplings 16 and 17 each appropriately secured thereto and adapted to connect respective fluid hoses or tubes 18 and 19. To this end, each coupling 16 and 17 extends outwardly of the case 12 to receive and releasably connect a suitable fitting 20 and 21, respectively. The tube 19 is the drain line of the apparatus adapted to contact the fluid or other matter to be evacuated, and in the preferred form of the invention a standard aspiration bottle 22 is employed in this line to collect and retain the evacuated matter. In this case the fitting 21 is preferably one of the standard quick disconnect variety to facilitate removal and replacement of the tube 19 and bottle 22 assembly.

The tube 18 is the suction line of the apparatus adapted to connect to the negative pressure source, for example a manifold 23, of an internal combustion engine through an appropriate fitting 24. A standard one-Way check valve 25 fitted with a screen on the manifold side is employed in the suction line or tube 18 as a safety precaution to prevent an inadvertent reversal of pressure direction in the chamber 15 which might otherwise occur due to sudden erratic or irregular operation of the engine.

Within the case 12, the coupling 16 connects to control means such as an adjustable needle valve 26; thus, the internal passage of the valve 26 terminates at one end in a port 27 connected to the coupling 16 and at the other end in a port 28 communicating with the chamber 15 which in turn communicates with the line 19. The valve stem 29 is linearly adjustable in the passage to vary the effective cross-sectional area thereof through a threaded extension 30 connected to the stem 29 and piercing the base wall of the case 12 where it terminates in a knurled knob 31 to facilitate its rotation.

Also within the case 12 is a standard vacuum gage 32 to constantly monitor and indicate the internal pressure of the chamber 15. To this end, the gage 32 is secured in any conventional manner to the base wall of the case 12 with its pointer 33 disposed adjacent the outer surface of the base wall of the case where it sweeps an associated dial 34 secured to the case 12 and enclosed. within a transparent cover. The dial 34 is calibrated in appropriate units corresponding to the vacuum condition within the chamber 15, a vent tube 35 being provided for the gage 32 for communication with ambient air externally of the case 12. Preferably, a predetermined operating range 36 is clearly marked on the face of the dial.

In order to prevent an abnormal vacuum within the chamber 15 as for example might be caused by sudden or erratic operation of the engine, an automatic relief valve 37 is also provided. Any standard valve of this type may be employed so long as it is actuated to open in response to a preselected vacuum condition within the chamber to admit ambient external air thereto. Preferably, this valve 37 is mounted internally of the case 12, being secured to the base wall thereof with its interior open to the exterior of the case 12 through a vent therein. Internally, the valve carries a ball 38 normally disposed or seated in the vent under the action of a compression spring 39 the tension of which is adjustable by a control 40 operable from outside of the case 12. This spring 39 is exposed to the vacuum condition within the chamber 15 through one or more passages 41 in the body thereof and when the vacuum increases to a predetermined pressure as determined by the setting of the control 40, the spring is compressed allowing the ball 38 to unseat and open the interior of the valve 37 to external atmosphere. A screen 42 may be employed in the vent to exclude foreign matter from the interior of the valve 37.

In operation, with the manifold system functioning, the tube 19 is placed in contact with the matter to be evacuated and the relief valve 37 is set to the desired value depending upon the ambient air of the environment. Needle valve 26 is adjusted to establish communication between the chamber 15 and the manifold system through line 18 whereby the suction operation commences. Matter is thereby drawn through the line 19 and deposited in the bottle 22. Concurrent with this operation, the attendant constantly watches the dial 34 and by adjustment of the valve 26 regulates the environment within the chamber 15 to maintain the suction at the desired rate within the preestablished range 36.

The foregoing disclosure is directed to a preferred embodiment of this invention from which various changes and modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. The appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and equivalents that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An aspirator apparatus comprising a vacuum chamber, a connector carried by said chamber and connectable to a source of negative pressure to establish communica tion therebetween, an adjustment on said chamber operative on said connector to regulate the fluid pressure therein, a pressure indicator mounted within said chamber and viewable externally of said chamber to designate the fluid pressure within the chamber, and a suction tube extending from said chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a one-way check valve between said connector and said source.

3. The apparatus of claiml including a vacuum bottle interconnected medially in the length of said tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including an adjustable relief valve in said chamber connecting the interior thereof with ambient external air.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said adjustment includes a needle valve to vary the efiective cross-sectional area of said connector and means operable externally of said chamber for the movement of said needle valve.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 including a gage indicating the pressure condition internally of said chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,443,977 2/1923 Carr 141 42 2,091,374 8/1937 Neuhaus 137556X 2,130,059 9/1938 Boshetal -141-43 2,135,148 11/1938 Roy 230 92 2,303,766 12/1942 Scherbak 14l-65 2,575,513 11/1951 Fox 12s- 2'77 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

H. T. KLINKSIEK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ASPIRATOR APPARATUS COMPRISING A VACUUM CHAMBER, A CONNECTOR CARRIED BY SAID CHAMBER AND CONNECTABLE TO A SOURCE OF NEGATIVE PRESSURE TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION THEREBETWEEN, AN ADJUSTMENT ON SAID CHAMBER OPERATIVE ON SAID CONNECTOR TO REGULATE THE FLUID PRESSURE THEREIN, A PRESSURE INDICATOR MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CHAMBER AND VIEWABLE EXTERNALLY OF SAID CHAMBER TO DESIGNATE THE FLUID PRESSURE WITHIN THE CHAMBER, AND A SUCTION TUBE EXTENDING FROM SAID CHAMBER. 